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REPORT OF THE 
SPECIAL COMMITTEE 



OF 



Cf)e ^t\x)^Wiotk Historiral ^octetp 

Unanimously Approved and Adopted 

AT A Stated Meeting Held 

February 6, 1917 



Printed by order of the Executive Committee 
1917 



REPORT OF THE 
SPECIAL COMMITTEE 



OF 



Ct)E JtEto'^ork historical ^ocittp 

Unanimously Approved and Adopted 

AT A Stated Meeting Held 

February 6, 1917 



Printed by order of the Executive Committee 
1917 






Gift 



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OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. 
Elected January 2, 1917, for Three Years ending 1920. 



PRESIDENT, 

JOHN ABEEL WEEKES, 

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT, 

WILLIAM MILLIGAN SLOANE. 

SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT, 

WALTER LISPENARD SUYDAM. 

THIRD VICE-PRESIDENT, 

GERARD BEEKMAN. 

FOURTH VICR-PRESIDENT, 

FRANCIS ROBERT SCHELL. 

FOREIGN CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, 

ARCHER MILTON HUNTINGTON. 

DOMESTIC CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, 

JAMES BENEDICT. 

RECORDING SECRETARY, 

FANCHER NICOLL. 

TREASURER, 

FREDERIC DELANO WEEKES. 

LIBRARIAN, 

ROBERT HENDRE KELBY. 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



FIRST GLASS — FOR ONE YEAR, ENDING 1918. 

JAMES BENEDICT, RICHARD HENRY GREENE, 
ARCHER M. HUNTINGTON. 

SECOND Gl.ASS — FOR TWO YEARS, ENDING, 1919. 

J. ARCHIBALD MURRAY, B. W. B. BROWN, 

EDWIN W. ORVIS 

THIRD CLASS — FOR THREE YEARS, ENDING 1920. 

STANLEY W. DEXTER, HENRY F. DE PUY, 

FREDERICK TREVOR HILL. 

FOURTH CLASS — FOR FOUR YEARS, ENDING 1921. 

PAUL R. TOWNE, LANGDON GREENWOOD, 

R. HORACE GALLATIN. 

JAMES BENEDICT, Chairman. 

ROBERT H. KELBY, Secretary, 

[The President, Vice-Presidents, Recording Secretary, 
Treasurer, and Librarian are members of the Executive 
Committee.! 



At the animal meeting of The New York Historical 
Society, held on Tuesday, January 2, 1917, the following 
preambles and resolution were offered : 

"Whereas, it is the sense of this meeting that com- 
mittees be appointed to look after the interests of strangers 
and offer to them and the members cordial receptions with 
a view of interesting citizens and members and others in 
the history of New York; 

"And Whereas, The rooms and the collections of the 
Society require rearrangement so that they can be avail- 
able for students and visitors. 

"Be It Resolved, That the President be and hereby 
is empowered to nominate two committees to act, and the 
Treasurer is authorized to advance sums not exceeding 
$3CX) to each committee, to be expended for the purposes 
designated." 

It was claimed in presenting the above, and as a pre- 
sumable argument for its adoption, that the Society was 
dead and unknown, the building a deformed monstrosity 
and the management incapable; to which, additional criti- 
cisms were added reflecting in a general way on the Society 
and the arrangement and neglect of the Society's collections. 

On motion, the resolution was referred to the Executive 
Committee, and the following report is now very respect- 
fully submitted. It may be first stated that in the special 
committee of three selected to investigate this matter only 
one actually serves' on the Executive Board ; and the two 
others take no active part whatever in the management of 
the Society's affairs, as provided under Section XXI. of 
our By-Laws: it seemed expedient that at least two cx- 
officio members of the executive should be placed on this com- 
mittee— in other words, so to constitute it that a majority 
might be composed of those who could, without prejudice 
and using their best judgment, reach a just conclusion, and 
one only to be arrived at after a thorough and conscientious 
consideration of all the facts. This might have been diffi- 



cult, or the findings and restdt not entirely satisfactory, 
to the general members of our Society had any other course 
been pursued. The committee selected, therefore, for this 
reason was composed of the Third \'ice-President. the 
Treasurer of your Society and one active member of the 
Executive Board. This committee, however, did not deem 
it expedient to assume alone the full responsibility of pass- 
ing upon all of the important questions that it would be 
called upon to consider and which seemed to include not 
only what might be contained in the resolution referred to 
them, but also the investigation of such criticism as had 
been directed against the Society and appeared to reflect on 
the management ; as well as an examination whether we were 
performing as far as possible such service as the public 
might reasonably expect and believe it was entitled to re- 
ceive. Your committee, therefore, concluded that it would 
be greatly aided could some arrangement be made whereby 
the opinions and criticism of those who were entirely dis- 
interested and in no way connected with our Society or even 
acquainted with the members of your committee might be 
obtained. The problem seemed a difficult one, as, in the 
opinion of your committee, those whose advice was required 
in the present instance must not only be experts, but fuUy 
qualified by long experience and reputation to act and be also 
entirely cai)able to pass on all matters pertaining to such an 
institution as our own. To this end your committee, was 
most fortunate in obtaining the chief representatives of three 
well-known societies — The Massachusetts Historical Society 
of Boston, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania and The 
American Antiquarian Society of Worcester, Mass. The 
ability of those in charge of these three societies is well 
known, while their high standing, knowledge and experi- 
ence peculiarly fitted them in every way, at least in the 
opinion of your committee, to judge concerning the questions 
that might properly be referred to them to decide. On in- 
vitation these gentlemen attended in this city and spent 
an entire day in a most thorough and conscientious examina- 
tion of the Society's building and its contents. There was 
no obligation on their part to show any favoritism or omit 
any criticism or suggestion. 



I^Ir Worthington C. Ford and Dr. John W. Jordan, rep- 
resentatives of The Alassachnsetts Historical Society of 
Boston and The Historical Society of ^Pennsylvania, both 
spoke most enthusiastically of the work of The New York 
Historical Society, the arrangement of its art objects and 
the value and merit of its service, and expressed also entire 
satisfaction as to the present method of exhibiting its col- 
lections which, so far as available space was concerned, 
were shown to the best advantage possible under the cir- 
cumstances. 

Mr Clarence S. Brigham of The American Antiquarian 
Society of Worcester, Mass., in a communication dated 
January 30, said in part : 

"The New York Historical Society has one of the 
most notable historical collections in the country. Ex- 
cept for manuscripts, I believe that it has the most 
valuable single collection of any historical society m 
the country. Together with the New York Public 
Library, it possesses the best collection of books relat- 
ing to New York State and City. * * * 

"in certain lines, not generally known, it ranks among 
the foremost libraries of the country. * * * 

"There is hardly a library in the country where one 
can obtain a quicker service than at the New York 
Historical Society, very largely because most of the 
books can be immediately found without recourse to 
the card catalogue. Moreover, it is one of the few 
libraries in the country which has its newspapers, maps 
most of its manuscripts and other similar classes of 
material catalogued. A new arrangement of some o 
these catalogues on cards, rather than in books, would 
be preferable, but this is not a matter of great 



urgency * * 



"The Historical Society has had a long and enviable 
record of publication, having brought out in its early 
series of collections much valuable material upon the 
beginnings of New York history, and published m 
its Fund Series the Gen. Charles Lee Papers, the Colden 



Papers, the Montresor Journals, the Kemble Papers, 
the vSilas Deane Papers, the Revolutionary Muster 
Rolls and a large amount of other important 
papers. * * * 

"The Society has many long files of papers of vari- 
ous American cities which are cOnsultahle at no other 
library in the North. * * * 

"I have been visiting the New York Historical So- 
ciety to consult historical material with considerable 
frequency for about twenty years, and can claim a 
certain amount of familiarity with its work. Nowhere, 
in any library in the country, have I been treated 
with greater courtesy, or served more intelligently and 
expeditiously. What faults are chargeable to the So- 
ciety — and these are sins of omission rather than of 
commission- — are imperfections due chiefly to lack of 
Uieans. If certain work has not been done, if certain 
publications have not been compiled, if certain kinds 
of assistance have not been furnished, it is because the 
officers have not been provided with the necessary 
means to fulfil these obligations. And this has always 
been the besetting sin of the »^ociety from the begin- 
ning, llow it has accomplished so nuich with so little 
has always been a source of wonder to those most 
familiar with its workings. It seems to me that in a 
community which boasts of the greatest wealth of 
any city on the continent there should be little trouble 
in persuading the possesors of riches to support ade- 
quately an institution which has done so nuicli, and 
could do so much more, to give New York its proper 
place in the history of the nation." 

Meetings have been held at the Society's building and 
elsewhere by your committee, which has, it believes, used 
every effort in obtaining such information as would serve to 
aid them in their investigations. 

These investigations a])])eared to include: 

First — The advisability of an api)ropriation in comiectiou 
with the appointment of a committee to attend at the So- 



ciety's building and there to offer "cordial receptions" for 
the purpose of arousing interest in citizens and members 
and others regarding the history of New York. 

Second — The advisability of an appropriation in connec- 
tion with a further committee, to consider the rearrange- 
ment of the rooms and collections of the Society with a 
view to making the latter more available for students and 
visitors. 

Under this head it appeared necessary fully to set forth 
what opportunity existed, if any, for such rearrangement 
of space in our building as might be found at the disposal 
of the committee. Also, if any action had been previously 
taken in making our collections more available, and, further- 
more, whether steps were under consideration or already 
decided upon for the better care, improvement and exhibi- 
tion of our collections or any part of them ; and finally, the 
consideration of the recommendation that the Treasurer of 
our Society be authorized to apply the sum of $600 for the 
use of said committees and for the purpose of enabling 
them to take such action as might be deemed, in their 
opinion, advisable. 

It seemed also to your committee that it was in addition 
called upon fully to investigate and make some reply to 
the charge reflecting in a general way on the condition and 
management of the Society, and whether there was any 
neglect or lack of interest on the part of those to whom its 
affairs had been, or were now, intrusted ; and to come to 
some conclusion, if these charges, made either in good faith 
or under a misapprehension as to the actual facts, were 
justified. 

Concerning the first recommendation — as to oft'ering a 
cordial reception to strangers. It does not appear that re- 
ception committees of this nature exist in other institutions 
similar in some respects to our own ; or that they are ever 
appointed except to extend a welcome or receive visitors 
on some special occasion. We therefore doubt the ex- 
pediency of appointing such a committee to serve continu- 
ously. If any members of our Society desire to attend at 



onr building during the tlay for the ])urpose of welcoming 
strangers, and with a view of interesting them in the his- 
tory of New York, there surely can be no objection to the 
j)lan. lUit to carry it out should not mean any expense that 
would be justifiable for the Society to incur as in.dicated in 
the suggested appropriation. 

Concerning the second recommendation covering the re- 
arrangement of the rooms and the collections : 

The lack of space in our present imcompleted building 
presents, in the opinion of your committee, a very serious 
problem and probably renders it impossible to show lo any 
real advantage many of the works of art now in the So- 
ciety's possession. We believe, moreover, that this crowded 
condition is likely to exist until means may be forthcoming 
to carry out the original plans of construction and thus 
afford adequate room properly to exhibit all the works of 
art and various treasures of interest now at the Society's 
disposal ; additional space would undoubtedly result in addi- 
tional gifts and thus add greatly to the Society's influence 
and prestige. We have, for instance, a collection of paint- 
ings numbering in all l,Oril ; of these but 712 are exhibited, 
the rest remaining, unfortunately, in our storerooms with 
other articles, including the almost priceless collection of 
the original water-color drawings of Audubon, numbering 
some 460 in all — the only set in existence and from which 
his series of books were made. Of these but 20 are framed 
for exhibition ; they may be found in the basement of our 
building, the only place where even so limited a number can 
be shown. It seems to your committee that no substitution 
is at this time expedient, because already our finest paintings, 
those in which the public are likely to take the most interest, 
have been selected for exhibition. As it is, many of our 
pictures now exhibited are badly hung in a position where 
the light is poor, so that satisfactory study is, in conse- 
quence, difficult, if not impossible. We believe that lack of 
space proves an insurmountable obstacle in any rearrange- 
ment, and consider the present exhibit the best obtainable 
under the circumstances. We have examined our present 
building in each and every part, and find every foot of space 



apparently utilized; we cannot, therefore, conclude that any 
different arrangement could be carried out or space found 
luiless a considerable number of interesting art objects are re- 
moved to the storeroom. Those on view are placed as they are 
in preference to the only other alternative, that of keeping 
them in storage. Books are shelved even in the Engineer's 
Department. Our Map Room is indescribably crowded. It 
may be said, however, that the best system, under the circum- 
stances, exists in spite of these difficulties. Every book has 
its place, and each article or picture is carefully numbered 
and described in manuscript catalogue. But much addi- 
tional space is necessary to create a more perfect order. 

As to any previous action in making our collections more 
available for students and visitors : 

We find that every picture is carefully and conspicu- 
ously numbered and to most of them a tablet is affixed. 
Care has also been taken by our Art Committee to indicate 
by an initial letter placed before the number the collection 
to which the work belongs. In this way the Bryan or Diirr 
paintings can be easily identified even without the catalogue. 
Bound copies of this, including our art and Egyptian col- 
lections, are always, however, loaned for the free use and 
convenience of any visitor. It does not appear that this 
custom is in vogue in most institutions, but it has long 
been so in ours. The objects in the New York Room, 
opposite the picture gallery, have descriptive cards annexed 
and are arranged, the committee believes, in a satisfactory 
manner. A sum of over $5,000 has been expended within 
the past few years in having our paintings cleaned and re- 
stored by experts, and this work is still going on. Upwards 
of $800 has also been spent in affixing tablets. This part 
of our Art Committee's work is not entirely completed, but 
has continued during the past year and is now progressing 
as rapidly as possible. 

Our cases containing silver and miniatures appear to the 
committee to give any observer full opportunity of identify- 
ing each article, except in the De Peyster Room, where 
arrangements are under way to obtain larger cases in order 



that the silver can be seen to better advantage. All these 
articles, however, were put in place by the late donor, with 
a special injunction that no change was to be made, and 
the Art Committee have, therefore, felt no little hesita- 
tion in disregarding her last wishes. In view of the atten- 
tion that has been given to enable all our paintings to be 
easily identified, and taking also into consideration the 
facility offered by means of the catalogues that, as stated, 
can be used by the visitor free of charge, it would seem 
as if our Art Committee could not be censured for not 
making this part at least of our collections more available. 
Again necessary space is lacking, but that, at the present 
time, cannot be secured. 

As to the better care, improvement and exhibition of our 
collections or any part of them : 

The committee feels that this may particularly refer to 
the Abbott Collection of Egyptian Antiquities — the most 
valuable of its kind that probably exists. As stated in the 
report of the Executive Committee presented and read at 
the animal meeting, new cases, after a long and careful 
examination and untiring work on the part of a committee 
appointed to look into this matter, have been ordered and 
are now vmder construction. These are to be located in 
the Dexter Room, fronting the park on the second story, 
in a most favorable light, and will be recatalogued and 
arranged by an Egyptologist with whom your committee is 
now in correspondence. It may be said that this most 
necessary improvement has long been under consideration, 
but only recently has the income of the Society enabled it 
to carry out an earnestly desired plan that cannot fail to 
result in great benefit to the student interested in the art 
and history of ancient Egypt and its people. It would 
seem to your committee that the Society had not neglected, 
therefore, the first opportunity to do justice to an important 
duty by putting in the best possible condition for exhibi- 
tion purposes this most interesting part of its art treasures. 
During the past summer, in fact, work was commenced, and, 
under the direction of an expert, much was accomplished in 
the renovation and repair of certain art objects that needed 



Mtention. So far as this part of your committee's report 
may be concerned, therefore, it cannot see that any apparent 
necessity exists for its approval of the resolutions that were 
presented at the annual meeting either for the appointment 
of the two committees or the appropriation of $600. 

Your committee now feels it a duty to refer briefly to 
the criticisms directed against the Society and apparently 
reflecting on the lack of interest and management of those 
officially in charge of its affairs, and it seems expedient to 
your committee that some reference should first be made to 
the financial difiiculties presented to those actively inter- 
ested in furthering the scope and influence of our Society. 
Its members should, therefore, clearly understand how, 
owing to the lack of available funds at the disposal 
of the Executive and Managing Boards, often needed, 
it may be added, in order to carry out such changes 
and improvements as they had in view and which are now 
perhaps in the minds of those disposed to offer suggestions 
— ^that the utmost economy was obligatory upon them in 
order not to involve the Society in debt. 

The committee need not remind those connected with this 
time-honored institution that the first and most important 
■duty of any Board of Trustees to whom the care and man- 
agement of a Society such as ours may be intrusted is, while 
conducting its affairs to the very best advantage, not to 
permit, under any circumstances, the yearly expenses to 
exceed the actual income. As was explained in the report 
of our executive, presented and read at the annual meeting, 
every effort has been made to observe this rule. It would 
appear, therefore, to your committee that any remarks indi- 
cating neglect or lack of interest on the part of our Alan- 
aging Board in not extending our work when means to do 
so were not forthcoming, must refer to a principle and to 
a custom that were established, and so far as possible have 
been maintained, by this Society for a long period of time; 
in fact, from the year 1804, when it was founded. 

Our actual resources in 1854 amounted to only $6,500, the 
expenses being practically met from membership fees and 



voluntary contributions. The early historv' of the Society, 
from 1804 to 1904, is clearly set forth in an interesting 
account compiled by our Librarian, which, owing to its 
many difficuUies might well l)e entitled: "The Distress 
and A'icissitudes of the Xew^ York Historical Society." 
In 1857 the Society occupied its first liome, the building 
located on Second Avenue at 11th Street. To construct this 
and purchase the necessary site the sum of $85,000 was 
contributed by its members and their friends. The total 
invested funds for general purposes, however, as late as 
1908. only amounted to $122,900, yielding in that year a 
return of $5,013.47. This, together witli our Hfe member- 
ship fees and annual dues, both being of a somewhat uncer- 
tain quantity, gave the Society but little opportunity, as it 
may be imagined, for attempting such work as it could have 
performed with more means at its disposal. The above year, 
1908, was an eventful one, but brought with it additional 
problems and anxiety as to the Society's afl:'airs. owing to 
the increased exjjenses in the occupation of its recently 
erected building on Central Park West, for which no en- 
dowment existed. The cost of our site amounted to $286.- 
500, and that of the building to $519,150. making a total ex- 
penditure of $805,650. This was contributed by members' 
subscriptions, by donations and by part of the proceeds from 
the sale of the old site ; our late benefactor, Henry Dexter, 
having first furnished $213,000 in cash and then, in addition, 
a sum of $55,000 to cover the cost of the granite. These 
facts may serve to indicate the earnest efiforts of the So- 
ciety's ofiicials and Governing IJoard, which had the matter 
in charge. By the generous financial assistance of the late 
Mr. Dexter was made possible even a partial realization of 
what had been a long expressed hope : that the Society 
might own a fireproof building measurably suitable to its 
actual needs. 

It is difticult to belie\e that any executive ever confronted 
greater financial difficulties than were presented during the 
next few years. In 1912, although our income from in- 
vested funds secured by gifts and legacies had increased to 
$10,218.67, we were obliged in the year following to pay out 



over $18,000 in general improvements that included the 
sum of $8,711 for installing a freight and passenger ele- 
vator, and various other sums to complete a building that 
had been occupied long before it was ready for actual use. 
Later, so much complaint was made owing to lack of air 
and the general overheating of our auditorium and library 
that a ventilating system was introduced to correct the 
trouble ; this put the Society to an additional expense of 
over $5,000 more. Other necessary improvements have 
since followed, and it has only recently been possible for 
our executive to undertake such important matters as were 
to some extent referred to in the last report of our Man- 
aging Board : to decide, for instance, on the purchase of 
new cases to house the Sacred Bulls and other valuable 
treasures of the Abbott Collection of Egyptian Antiquities, 
and to consider the engagement of an Egyptologist, plans 
that have long been in view, as well as the provision of 
an additional clerical force for our library, which will 
now be provided. It would seem as if our Executive 
Board should receive the credit of a most faithful service, 
not only in the perfomiance of all in their power to 
obtain the greatest possible return, but in the considera- 
tion of such results as would be most advantageous in the 
expenditure of the Society's income. In this connection 
It may be well to state that the generous legacy devised 
under the wills of the late Misses De Peyster consists of 
real estate largely unimproved, which, although assessed 
for a considerable sum, returns less than two and one-half 
per cent, on the present valuation. The condition of our 
real estate market, however, does not offer at present any 
favorable opportunity to dispose of any part of the So- 
ciety's holdings, and in consequence some misapprehension 
may exist as to its resources and income in this particular. 
And if, with its means and administrative staff of only ten, 
any comparison is made with other institutions it would 
seem that our Managing Board may deserve great credit, 
not only for preventing a deficit, but also for endeavoring 
to meet expenses in a way that would best serve the So- 
ciety's interests. To blame our Society, therefore, for not 
doing: as much as largfer and better endowed institutions is. 



we think, unjust, unless it can be shown that sufficient effort 
was not attempted to better tlie Society's condition. At tlie 
risk of re[jetition let us see what has been done in that 
(h recti on. 

Ten years ago the collections of this Society were housed 
in a building where they were in constant danger from fire. 
Since then this Society has raised over .$890,000 for the 
purchase of a desirable site and the erection of a building 
which, if not yet finished or adequate to our needs, is at 
least, we believe, safe; and we are therefore confideni that 
the lr(,'asures which have l)een entrusted to our care will not 
be destroyed as were those at Albany five or six years ago. 
What the great State of New York then, with all its re- 
sources, neglected to provide, we. with our limited means. 
did secure. Since 1912 we have had our income increased 
from the De Peyster and Warner legacies sufficiently to 
enable the Society to do some things wliich were before 
imjjossible. lUit before expending anything along adminis- 
trative lines we were compelled to take from our income 
v^i^Jv^OOO to pro\ide such impro\ements as were absolutely 
necessary to carry on our work. Since then we ha\e been 
able to add to a still inadequate staff and thus better to suj)- 
ply the wants of the public. We have had our valualjle col- 
lection of paintings cleaned and cared for by an expert and 
brass tablets put on them. This work is still unfinished, but 
is being rapidly pushed. We ha\e Ijound and made avail- 
able our priceless collection of early newspapers, thus 
making them accessible to students. The work of cata- 
loguing our manuscripts and library has been nnich ad- 
vanced and the library has been opened on more days and 
longer hours than was before possible. The volumes of 
the Publication lAuid Series, which were years behind, have 
been brought up to date. A contract has been made for 
new and api)ropriate cases for the Aljbott Collection of 
Egyptian Antiquities, so that we hope the objects will soon 
be better displayed. This, however, can only be done cor- 
rectly when we are able to finish the building. For nearly a 
year the officers have l)een in correspondence with Egypt- 
ologists throughout this counlr}- and abroad to ol)lai!i an ex- 



pert to catalogue and arrange the Egyptian collection, and 
only in the past few weeks have we, through helpful atten- 
tion from the Field Museum in Chicago, been put in touch 
with an expert whom we hope to be able to secure. Finally, 
at its last meeting the Executive Committee authorized the 
publication of a quarterly journal, to be conducted along the 
lines of those issued by the Metropolitan Museum and 
Natural History Museum and similar institutions. 

All this work has been accomplished in four years with 
great difficulty, owing to a scarcity of funds, which neces- 
sitated the utmost economy in every particular. To compare 
our activities, therefore, with those of institutions that have 
not only millions of endowment, but which receive also gen- 
erous municipal assistance, does not, in the opinion of your 
committee, seem fair or just. Possibly this Society should 
have appealed to the municipality for aid, but we have 
existed for 113 years without it, and we hope not only 
to exist but to grow older and continue to do good work 
in the future without it ; and we believe further that 
when the people of this great and wealthy city understand 
our aims and our needs that it will not be necessary to 
call on our taxpayers for compulsory contributions. 

We also feel that if any accusation can be brought 
against our officials and Executive Board on the ground 
that they have been remiss, it is perhaps only because they 
have not furnished our members, the press and the public 
with information as to what they were accomplishing. To 
that charge your committee feels they should plead guilty. 

We consider, in conclusion, that any who have criticised 
the Society would not have done so if they had under- 
stood and realized what the Society has accomplished 
with its almost insignificant income; to its President and 
Executive P.oard, in the opinion of your committee, belongs 
all praise for what their interest and faithful efforts have 
produced. 

And now just one word more to the members of this 
Society who arc assembled in this building, and who, we 
believe, are all united in one common purpose : to stand 



together in every matter pertaining to the Society's welfare, 
well-being and advancement. That word is a recommenda- 
tion of the following matters for the consideration of our 
executive as means permit: 

First — The continuation of work already commenced in 
caring for and displaying our collections. 

Second — The increase of our staff by experts in the vari- 
ous departments. 

Third — The means by which our library collections may 
be added to and gaps in our files of newspapers and manu- 
scripts filled up by gift or purchase. 

Fourth — A reorganization of our lecture course, probably 
by adding to the present course one or two additional 
courses ; as. for instance, one for such as are interested 
in the history of New York meetings, where papers of 
more serious import can be read and discussed ; possibly 
also a course for children, suggested by several members. 

Last — And most important, that our united membership 
should devise and energetically carry out a plan whereby 
we can secure funds to complete our building and obtain 
a proper endowment. 

All of which is very respectfully submitted. 

Gerard Beekman, 
Henry F. De Puy, 
Frederic Delano Weekes, 
Special Committee of The 
New York Historical 
Society. 
Dated New York, P'ebruary 6, 1917. 



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